Page 109 of Sins of the Father

I remove my shorts and long-sleeve shirt and unzip the dress.

“What does Steven want you to do?” Anna asks.

My gut quivers. “Let him support me until I find a job here.”

“Would doing that be so horrible?” Vivian quietly asks.

Time to just admit how bad it is.

“Please don’t tell anyone in my family, or Chase, but I told Steven everything last night. I have nothing left. In two months, my account will be zero, zilch, nada. I’m past the point where I should have let this get, and I can’t really offer much to a man who has it all together when I don’t, now can I?”

“I don’t agree with you,” Anna says.

Vivian adds, “Maybe Steven doesn’t need you to be all together. He is. What if that is enough for the two of you?”

Silence.

“I’m thirty-five, not eighteen. I had millions and now have nothing.”

“Because your husband stole all your money,” Anna chimes in.

“Doesn’t matter. I didn’t do what I should have. I could have gone after Ian, but I let emotions control my decisions. Can someone zip me?”

Vivian fastens the back. I step toward the mirror.

“That’s fantastic on you!” Anna claims.

“Agreed. I have the perfect clutch, too. Let me find it.” Vivian opens a drawer filled with evening bags in every color I could ever imagine.

“Okay, you’re killing me right now.”

She grins and pulls one out that is made of shiny satin.

“This is gorgeous.”

“Yeah, love it,” Anna follows.

“Take it. You can try on other gowns, but you do look fabulous in this one.”

I check out my booty and turn again. “Okay, unzip me. This is it. I have the perfect heels for this dress at Jamison’s.”

“Take this necklace and bracelet, too. Oh, and this ring.” Vivian puts it in a jewelry pouch and puts everything in a garment bag.

I spend the rest of the day taking care of Hope, and when she naps, I pull up jobs in Chicago, but it’s overwhelming. There are tons, but anything interesting has requirements I don’t meet.

I email my old boss, one of the partners.

Hi Larry,

I hopethings are well with you and your family. When I left, you told me if I wanted to ever come back, the door would always be open. Is that offer still on the table? If so, can we talk?

Sincerely,

Harper Lancott (formerly Bisson)

I read it several times.My stomach pitches, but I hit send.

Within a minute, I get a reply.

---